The Hunter (The Vrix #3)

Chapter 1

The roar of the cascading waterfall muted Lacey’s cries as she clutched her lower belly.

She curled her fingers, wishing she could sink them into her flesh like claws and tear out her insides to put an end to her agony.

The pain was relentless, sharp, and brutal, like a hot blade stabbing and twisting over and over.

Standing hunched over in waist-deep water, Lacey drew in one shaky breath after another, attempting to breathe through the pain, to calm herself.

“I’m okay…” she whispered. “I’m okay.”

As though to refute those words, another excruciating convulsion seized her. A sob tore from Lacey’s throat. She threw out a hand, slapping it against the nearby rock.

I am most certainly not fucking okay.

If anything could have soothed her, it would’ve been this place—this private slice of paradise, tucked behind the waterfall, where the waters from the temple hot springs above fed into a warm pool.

Colorful vegetation clung to the nearby cliffside, dotted with bright blossoms. It was beautiful, and it should’ve been serene and relaxing.

Instead, it only felt like a mockery of her pain.

Turning toward the rock, Lacey drew herself out of the pool.

Water poured from the skirt of her short, brown patchwork dress.

She ignored the way the rock bit into her palms and knees as she crawled to her belongings.

Her bugout bag and spear, the two things that had been drilled into her to never leave behind.

The weapon lay beside her bag, but Lacey didn’t bother to reach for it.

At this point, were a beast to come upon her, drawn by the scent of blood, she doubted she’d have the will to fight back.

She lay down on her side upon the rough, flat stone and dragged her bag beneath her head. Pressing her fists to her pelvis, she drew her knees up and cried.

This was it. After all the struggles, all the trials, all the crushing defeats and hard-won victories, this was how it all ended.

Lacey was going to die here, alone and suffering, slowly bleeding to death.